Water-power.



No. 794,988. PATENTED'JULY 18, 1905. M. KNIGKERBOGKER. WATER POWER. APPLICATION FILED rBB.11,19o5.

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YNITisD STATES Patented July 1s, 1905.

PATENT GFFICE.

MILLIS KNICKERBOCKER, OF NEW LENOX, ILLINOIS.

WATER-POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,988, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed February Il, 1905. Serial N0. 245,239.

'To all, wil/0m, t may 0071.007177,.-

Beit known that I, MILLIs KNICKERBOCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing'at New Lenox, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Water-Powers, of which the following is acspeciication.

This invention is a water-power comprising a series of vertical water-wheels mounted upon pontoons which act to form a dam having ways through which the water Hows to the wheels and constructed to swing either diagonally across the stream or back against one bank, as more fully described hereinafter. rI he construction whereby the pontoons may be swung down against the bank of the stream substantially clears the waterway, so that in times of freshet or when the water-power is not to be used the stream will be left clear.

The invention is particularly applicable to streams or canals of comparatively narrow width and avoids the large expense incident to the construction of a stationary dam as well as the back rise caused thereby.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a plan view and Fig. 2 a front elevation.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the dam comprises a series of pontoons 6, consisting of wood or metal casings spaced apart and connected rigidly together by beams 7 to form a dam, with waterways 8 between the respective pontoons. The pontoons are submerged to the extent desired by suitable ballast, conveniently water-ballast admitted through the valves 9. The front ends of the pontoons are inclined, as at 10, to direct the flow of water into the channels or ways 8. The dam so constructed is hinged to one bank of the stream, as at 11, the hinge rod or pintle being of sufficient length to accommodate any ordinary rise and fall of the dam. Bars (indicated at 12) extend across the front of the dam and act to guide floating ice, logs, and the like down beyond the lower end or" the dam, so as to not clog the wheels.

The wheels 13 are journaled vertically in pockets formed in the sides of the pontoons and extend across the passages 8 between the pontoons. The wheels are belted together by chains or other belts (indicated at 14) extending around sprocket or other wheels 15 on the journals of the water-wheels above the pontoons. The power is conveniently transmitted Jfrom the last wheel by a belt 16 to the bank. Swinging gates 17, hinged at 18, serve to close the respective passages it' and when desired.

In use the dam formed as above stated is swung out into the stream and made fast by a cable 19. The llow of water through the passages 8 turns the wheels and will prove effective even with slow-moving streams or canals. In times of freshet or when the power is not needed the belt 16 is unshipped and the cable 19 loosened. This allows the dam to be swung around upon its hinge 11 against the bank of the stream, so that it remains practically unobstructedand there is little danger of the dam being carried away by the force of the water. Gbviously the wheels can be connected together, as shown,or used separately, as desired, or part of the power may be transmitted toene bank and part to the other, the arrangement of the transmission-gearing being a matter to be determined by the local conditions. In case the power of only part of the wheels is needed the gates 17 of the others can be closed. The grating formed by the bars 12 throws floating Stuff down around the lower end of the dam,

so that there is no danger of clogging or injuring the wheels by large floating objects.

What Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a floating dam cornprising a series of partially-submerged pontoons connected together and having waterways therebetween, and constructed to extend diagonally across the stream, means to hinge the dam to one bank of the stream, and a series of water-wheels carried by the pontoons and located in the said ways.

2. In a water-power, in combination, afioating dam and means for hinging the same to one bank of the stream, said dam extending diag- In testimony whereof I have signed my name onally outward toward the other bank, and to this specification in the presence of two subhavng Waterways therethrough, timbers exsoribing witnesses.

tending along the front of the dem across said MILLIS KNICKERBOCKER. 5 Ways, and adapted to guide floating objects Witnesses:

beyond the outer end of the dam, and Water- CLARA PRosoHE,

Wheels in said ways. H. G. BATOHELOR. 

